Chapter III

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I stared as Allen gave the man his coffee, and the suppression of his glare made me bite my lip. It was unexpected that the man had noticed I was staring off into nothing, which happened to be in that same direction in which he was making his crane.

His sudden kindness left me speechless. And my reflexes ran off far better than my mind.

Before I knew it, I had taken the crane in my hands and obnoxiously stated that e had done it wrong. I showed him what little I remembered in origami.

It was embarrassing; I returned his kindness like a snob.

Allen walked to the far end of the counter and poured into a bowl a ladle of soup. Waddling to me, he dropped it with a clunk on the counter.

“Thank you.” I said prickling up the metal spoon and he grumbled something, walking away.

My eyes went back to the crane, then at the man who tried to sip his coffee; His eyes squinting, crow’s feet giving him an adorable touch.

Adorable? Out of all others, I chose adorable.

Instead of honest, handsome, refined…

I chose adorable.

I smiled to myself and ignored my possibly reddened cheeks.

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The first taste of the coffee burned his lip. He blew at it again and tried for a second sip.

Giving up, he put it down and sighed, looking at his watch.

He lifted the mug again and successfully took a mouthful. It warmed his insides and he closed his eyes. He took the mug to his lips and turned to her, swallowing and watching.

She, while eating soup, was doodling on the crane with a purple ball-point pen.

He leaned in and could see the details of the beak and eyes; the feathers of the body.

She paused and looked up.

He was practically standing, trying to see what she was doing.

Her eyes went wide and she leaned away in seconds.

He tried to smile in apology but she didn’t relax.

He picked up the crane, and turned it over his fingers. “This is beautiful.”

She fixed her position and slowly leaned forward, both hovering over the paper figure.

She pointed at it’s face. “No, see? The eye, it’s messed up.”

He was looking at her and when she looked up at him he gave her a mischievous smile.

“That’s twice you correct me.”

She looked back down in confusion.

Glancing at his watch, he cursed silently and tilted his head back, drinking the rest of his coffee. “I have to go.”

She turned her seat back to the counter.

He hesitated. “Can I invite you for …” his eyes grazed her bowl, “soup tomorrow or perhaps next week?”

“What?” she stared dumbly at him as he wiped his mouth with another napkin from the dispenser. His eyes drifted away and his fingers drummed on the Formica.

“I would like to see you again.”

She looked uncomfortable.

He nudged her hand with the crane. “Sign it, please.”

Obliging and not knowing why, she scrawled her signature on the meeting of the wing with the body. She dropped her pen afterwards and looked away.

He watched her and tilted his head. “Thank you.” He looked down at the signature then at her. “What is your name?”

“Teresa.” She said before thought.

“My name is James. Thank you again, it was nice meeting you.” He stood and took the crane in his hand.

“Bye.” They both said. And with a small smile, he walked out.

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END

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A/N: that’s it.

I think I have enough drafts and stuff to make a sequel, but I’d prefer your opinion on it first. Reviews are always nice.